Device for monitoring sleep-disordered breathing

Abstract

The claimed utility model relates to measuring technology for medical purposes, and more particularly to a portable, wearable device for the monitoring and prevention of various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing. The technical result consists in providing multi-functionality and a wider range of functional capabilities. This technical result is achieved by means of the claimed portable, wearable device for the monitoring and prevention of various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing, which consists of a unit with five modules mounted therein: a measuring module for recording the breathing rate and determining the position of the body, a module for generating vibrations, a control module, a data receiving / transmission module, and a lithium polymer battery with a battery control module.

Description

[0001] A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing.

[0002] The claimed utility model relates to measuring equipment for medical purposes, in particular, to a portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders.

[0003] A person spends approximately a third of their life sleeping. The body needs sleep to restore strength and energy, regulate emotions, support immune function, and much more. During sleep, a person should rest physically, psychologically, and emotionally. However, this process can be disrupted by various illnesses. In today's world, with its colossal overwork, exhaustion, and unhealthy lifestyle choices, deep and restful sleep is becoming a rarity.

[0004] In the modern classification of sleep diseases, there are 83 types of sleep disorders [American Academy of Sleep Medicine et al. International Classification of Sleep Disorders Third Edition, Text Revision (ICSD-3-TR) / / Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine. - 2023.}. More than half of the population suffers from one sleep disorder or another, and the frequency of sleep disorders increases with age. For example, the estimated prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (stopping breathing during sleep due to blockage of the upper airway) among the adult population aged 30-79 in Russia is 51% [Bochkarev M. V. et al. Complaints of sleep-disordered breathing and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in the regions of Russia: data from the ESSE-RF study / / Russian Journal of Cardiology. - 2018. - No. 6. - pp. 152-158]. Due to the lack of attention of the patient and doctors, sleep apnea remains unrecognized in 85-90% of cases. Snoring, which always accompanies the disease, is noted by 58% of Russians.Somnambulism (or sleepwalking) is also a fairly common phenomenon. According to statistics, approximately 0.9-3% of the adult population is susceptible to somnambulism, the prevalence of somnambulism in children can reach 6-29% [Kushida S. Encyclopedia of sleep. - Academic Press, 2013]. Restless legs syndrome (Willis-Ekbom syndrome), which is characterized by pronounced sensorimotor symptoms, is classified as a neurological disorder. Modern population studies show that the prevalence of RLS is 2 - 10% [(1) Scofield H., Roth T., Drake C. Periodic lim bmovements during sleep: population prevalence, clinical correlates, and racial differences / / Sleep. - 2008. - V. 31. -№. 9. - P. 1221-1227. (2) Kushida C. Encyclopedia of sleep. - Academic Press, 2013]Often patients do not attach much importance to sleep disorders.However, these diseases cause daytime fatigue, drowsiness, irritability, and also aggravate the course of cardiovascular diseases, which leads to a reduction in life expectancy.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a portable wearable device to monitor and prevent various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing in people who experience sleep problems or notice symptoms of any type of sleep disorder.

[0006] An analogue of the claimed device is a device for monitoring the position of the human musculoskeletal system, containing a position sensor, designed with the possibility of being fixed on the user and connected through an electronic unit to an alarm generating a warning signal, characterized in that the position sensor is made in the form of a strain gauge fixed on an elastic plate (patent for utility model RU 3536).

[0007] The main drawback of this analogue is that the cited patent does not disclose the use of the device for monitoring body position during sleep, preventing and preventing sleep disorders (by changing body position), various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing, i.e., it is not multifunctional and does not expand its functional capabilities.

[0008] The prototype of the claimed utility model is a device for monitoring the regular movement of the human body, for example, an infant, comprising an electronic circuit including at least one signaling device, and fastening means for detachably fastening the device to the human body, characterized in that the device includes an elastic flexible protrusion extending from the device, as well as a sensor connected to the electronic circuit and configured to detect deflection of the protrusion, wherein the fastening means and the protrusion are designed such that the protrusion touches the human body when the device is attached to the body, and the electronic circuit includes a signaling device if the magnitude of the detected deflection of the protrusion changes to a predetermined value (patent for invention RU2470 584).

[0009] This invention does not disclose application for adults (due to its design, which is intended only for infants). It lacks the ability to control, monitor, and prevent various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing. It lacks a vibration module to prevent various dangerous situations that arise during sleep (sleep-disordered breathing, snoring, sudden body movements, sleepwalking episodes), meaning it is limited in functionality and lacks any expansion options. All of these are significant shortcomings of the prototype.

[0010] The objective of the claimed utility model is to eliminate the shortcomings of the analogue and prototype, and the technical result is multifunctionality and expansion of functional capabilities.

[0011] It is proposed to use a developed device to combat the disorders described above, which is capable of identifying sleep disorders and monitoring a person's condition during sleep to predict or prevent dangerous situations during sleep (for example, (1) sleep apnea, which occurs when a person sleeps on his back - the device monitors a person's position during sleep and his breathing, and in case of registering a "dangerous" position "on the back" or lack of breathing, it signals this (via vibration), (2) signs of somnambulism (sleepwalking) - the device monitors a person's position during sleep, and in case of registering a person's rise to a vertical position, the system signals this (via vibration), (3) episodes of "restless legs syndrome" - the device monitors a person's motor activity during sleep and abnormal body movements.

[0012] The technical result is achieved due to the fact that a portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders is a unit within which five modules are mounted: a measuring module with the function of recording the rhythm of breathing and determining the position of the body, a vibration generating module, a control module, a data receiving / transmitting module and a Li-Poly battery with a battery control module.

[0013] The block body is made of plastic: either ABS, or polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, or polyethylene, or polystyrene, or polycarbonate, or metal: either aluminum or steel.

[0014] The unit's housing also features additional cutouts for the following elements: a push-button switch, either a slider switch, a key switch, or a latching button, and a charging port for the unit's Li-Poly battery. The port can be either Micro USB, Mini USB, USB Type-C, or a DC jack.

[0015] The block has a cutout for a MicroSD card for recording data.

[0016] All modules and the battery are connected via contact tracks or conductive wires. The measuring module can be an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an inclination sensor, ball-type switches, or an encoder. Any of these elements can be used individually or in pairs within the unit.

[0017] In this case, a microcontroller acts as a control module.

[0018] A Bluetooth module serves as the data receiver / transmitter. The device is attached to the body either with a textile or silicone belt, which includes a special pocket or compartment for securing or inserting the unit, or with an adhesive patch.

[0019] The claimed utility model is explained by schematic images.

[0020] In fig. 1 shows a diagram of the device.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the use of a device on a textile belt on a person.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a diagram of the use of the device on a textile belt on a person during sleep.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a diagram of how the patch device is used on a person during sleep. Fig. 5 shows a photo of the general appearance of the device.

[0024] Where 1 is a block; 2 is a measuring module (body position determination module); 3 is a control module; 4 is a vibration generation module; 5 is a data reception / transmission module; 6 is a Li-Poly battery and a battery control module.

[0025] The device operates as follows: during sleep, it records various physiological parameters (either body position or breathing rhythm (based on chest movement)) and transmits them to a mobile phone app. If a "dangerous situation" is detected (based on the signals, an attack of apnea (breath holding), an episode of sleepwalking (rising to an upright position), an attack of "restless legs" (registering sudden body movements), etc.), the belt begins to emit soft vibrations. The user, feeling the vibrations during sleep, without waking up, subconsciously understands the need to turn over (in the case of apnea), return to bed (in the case of sleepwalking), or take medication (in the case of an attack of "restless legs"), thereby avoiding dangerous positions and episodes that could disrupt the body's functioning.

[0026] An additional feature is the ability to transfer data from the main unit to a phone or personal computer using software. Furthermore, the device has a smart alarm clock function, particularly important for those diagnosed with insomnia and hypersomnia. Maintaining a sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms is crucial for those with these conditions. The device analyzes various biomedical data collected from the belt (sleep activity, respiratory rate, sleep phases, and sleep onset time) to calculate the most favorable time to wake up and alert the user via vibration. Thus, the smart alarm clock function allows a person to maximize the benefits of sleep by maintaining circadian rhythms and choosing the correct wake-up time.

[0027] In this way, the following is achieved:

[0028] (1) The first option involves determining a person's body position during sleep and, if a dangerous position (such as lying on one's back) is detected, prompting the person to change position and take necessary actions using vibrations. The second option involves determining a person's body position during sleep or sudden movements of the body or body parts during sleep and, if abnormal movements are detected (rising to an upright position during somnambulism or sudden twitching of the body or body parts), prompting the person to awaken and take necessary actions using vibrations.

[0029] (2) Analysis of medical and biological data obtained from the device and calculation of circadian rhythms of sleep and the most favorable time of awakening, which is a multifunctionality and expansion of the functional capabilities of the device, compared to the analogue and prototype.

Claims

Formula 1. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders, which is a unit with five modules mounted inside: a measuring module with the function of recording the rhythm of breathing and determining the position of the body, a vibration generating module, a control module, a data receiving / transmitting module and a Li-Poly battery with a battery control module.

2. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit is made of plastic: either ABS, or polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, or polyethylene, or polystyrene, or polycarbonate, or metal: either aluminum or steel.

3. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit housing has additional cutouts for the following elements: a switch button in the form of either a slider switch, or a key switch, or a latching button, a connector for charging the Li-Poly battery of the unit, wherein either Micro USB, or Mini USB, or USB type-C, or a DC connector can be used as a connector.

4. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit may have a cutout for a MicroSD card for recording data.

5. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing according to claim 1, characterized in that all modules and the battery are connected via contact tracks or conductive wires.

6. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep-disordered breathing according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring module is either an accelerometer, or a gyroscope, or a magnetometer, or an inclination sensor, or ball-type deflection switches, or an encoder, wherein any of the listed elements can be used in the unit individually or in pairs.

7. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that a microcontroller serves as the control module.

8. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that a Bluetooth module serves as the data receiving / transmitting module.

9. A portable wearable device for monitoring and preventing various sleep disorders and sleep breathing disorders according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it is attached to the human body either using a textile or silicone belt, which implies the presence of a special pocket or compartment for fixing or inserting the unit, or using an adhesive patch.

Images